Everyone knows how to do a push-up, but there are plenty of other exercises you can do from that very same position. Here are 4 of our favorites:

1. Turn to Sky – To perform this exercise, lift one slowly hand off the ground and turn your body. This hand should reach to the sky, almost as if you were giving a “high 5.” The hand remaining on the ground and your toes will provide your stability and balance. Make sure not to rush this exercise. It should provide relaxation and recovery, while promotion strength.
2. Push-up Jacks – Starting in the push-up position, with toes together, separate them wide apart, and then bring them back together, replicating the same motion the feet make while doing jumping jacks. This exercise combines the isometric upper body strength needed to hold up your body weight, while gaining the cardiovascular benefits of moving the feet rapidly.
3. Kneeling Push-ups – This is a very simple way to modify the push-up allowing for better form and assistance to the upper body. Many people struggle to do only a couple push-ups the right way. By placing some of the weight on the lower body, it allows for more push-ups to be done and done correctly.
4. Push-up Falls – These are similar to the kneeling push-up, except that after lowering your elbows, drive up with power so that your hands leave the ground 1-6 inches. As your hands return to the ground, repeat the process lowering your elbows and shoulders, popping back off the ground. When done rapidly, it looks like your hands are jumping off the ground. This allows for an upper body plyometric, activating the muscles’ strength shortening cycle. We love this exercise so much, because almost all plyometric are done using the legs. This is one of several upper body plyometrics we teach our clients.